title: Antiobesity effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract (actiponin): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effects of actiponin was investigated, a heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract, on body weight, fat loss, and metabolic markers of Korean participants in a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Obese participants (BMI ≥ 25 kg m(-2) and WHR ≥ 0.90 for male or WHR ≥ 0.85 for female) who had not been diagnosed with any disease and met the inclusion criteria were recruited for this study. The 80 subjects were randomly divided into actiponin (n = 40, 450 mg day(-1) ) and placebo (n = 40) groups. Outcomes included measurement of efficacy (abdominal fat distribution, anthropometric parameters, and blood lipid profiles) and safety (adverse events, laboratory test results, electrocardiogram data, and vital signs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 12-week of actiponin supplementation, total abdominal fat area, body weight, body fat mass, percent body fat, and BMI were significantly decreased (P = 0.044, P < 0.05, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.05, respectively) in the actiponin group compared to the placebo group. No clinically significant changes in any safety parameter were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed that actiponin is a potent antiobesity reagent that does not produce any significant adverse effects. These results suggest that actiponin supplementation may be effective for treating obese individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Obesity Research Center, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea; Department of Clinical Trial Center for Functional Foods, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tae-Lin
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi-Ra
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Tirupathi Pichiah
authors.forename: Soo-Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Youn-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cha
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D029774:Gynostemma / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; C474918:gypenoside